Composing-stick



(.No Model.)

P. s. KELLOGGQ OOMPOSING STICK.

Patented Dec. 2'7, 1887'.

Invenlor,

N. PETERS, Phcloiilhognpher, Wxhin'gum. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PRESTON S. KELLOGG, OF BATTLE GREEK, MICHIGAN.

COMPOSlNG-STICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,360, dated December27, 1887.

Application filed January 3, 1887. Serial No. 223,251. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PRESTON S. KELLOGG,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Greek, county ofCalhoun, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Composing-Stiek, of which the following is aspecifieation.

This invention relates to the ordinary composingstiek used by printersin setting type.

My object is to effect certain improvements in connection with thelocking of the movable jaw, substantially as below described andclaimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure lis aperspective view of acomposing-stick embodying my improvements; Fig. 2,alongitudinal section of one of the arms of the movablejaw on line 2 2 inFig. 3; Fig. 3, a plan of said jaw; Fig. 4., a cross-section on line 1 1in Fig. 2, showing connecting parts as when looking from apoint at theright of the latter-named figure, but with the clip a omitted; Fig. 5,aperspective of the movable jaw, showing a change from Fig. 1. Figs. 6and 7 are broken plates, showing modified forms of the lock-plate inFig. 1; andFig S, a change from the detail lettered o in Fig'. 2.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A is the base-plate, Fthe fixed jaw at the end, a the back wall of the stick, and B is themovable jaw, all substantially as in composing-sticks in ordinary use.The arm 1? of the jaw fits against the back wall of the stick, while thejaw proper, B, is parallel with the fixed jaw F. The movable jaw is keptin place by a clip, a, Fig. 5,which clip surrounds the back wall andslides thereonthat is, said wall is between the jaw and the clip, andthe clip catches over the under side of the baseplate A. Fig. 5 clearlyshows how the clip is made. The lock-plate G is of hardened metal. Theseplates are struck out by dies, or otherwise formed separate from theback wall, a, of the stick, and are provided with a series of slots, at,at the lower edge, as in Fig. 1, or the upper edge, Fig. 7, or at thelongitudinal center, Fig. 6, or at other. suitable points. The width ofpica or half-pica type corresponds with the distance the slots areapart. Any suitable dog may be attached to the movable jaw,to interlockwith the slots at and hold the jaw B at a proper location to establishthe desired longitudinal space between the two jaws B F.

The object of adjusting the jaw 13 and the spacing of the slots at willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art without dwelling uponit here.

To illustrate the operation of a dog with the slots, reference may behad to the vertical plunger 0, having at the lower end arearwardly-projecting dog, 75, Figs. 2 and 4, and the spring 12, whichhas an upward resistance against a downward pressure of the plunger 0upon it to cause the dog i to enter the slotin the lock-plate. The dogand means for operating it being connected with the movable jaw, thelatter is locked at desired locations. Pressing down upon the plunger 0frees the dog 6 by throwingitinto thelongitudinal space between thelower notched edge of the lockplate 0 and the bottom of the stick, Figs.1 and 4. When the movable jaw is moved, the operator keeps the plunger 0pressed down, and the dog 1' traverses the said longitudinal space untilthe plunger is released, at which time the dog will enter thedesiredslot.

"It will appear obvious that by slight changes in the construction andaction of the dog the slots to in Figs. 6 and 7 are available.

Of course the slots might be formed in the inner face of the back wallof the stick, but not extending entirely through said wall to mar theappearance and to be rough to the hand of the operator; but forming thelock-plate separated from the stick is much more convenient, and beingof harder metal will not so readily wear.

The lock-plate C may be secured to the inner face of the back wall bysoldering-or in any practical manner, and when thus secured reallyconstitutes a part of the back wall. It is desirable that a set-screw ora clasp, or some other suitable means, shall be employed to clamp orhold the free end of the arm P against the wall a, to prevent itstilting away, and thus tilting the jaw B out of its true parallelrelation with the fixed jaw. So far as the novelty in my plan of lockingthe jaw is is not new for clamping the parts P a, per se; but Iconstruct and arrange it in a manner to eoact with the plunger 0 tooperate the dog i.

In Fig. l the use of the clasp D as a clamp is illustrated. \Vhenswinging the clasp up ward to release the arm P, the lower end of theback of the clasp contacts with the top of the plunger 0, forcing itdown and freeing the dog, thus unclamping and unlocking the movable jawunder one action. Figs. 2 and 4 show the clasp contacting with the dogready to be swung over a little farther to release the dog.

In Fig. 5 is shown an equivalent to the actionjust described. a is aspring-plate provided with a dog, 8, which of course extends through thearm 1?. Shutting the clasp D down springs the plate 1' into the recessin the arm I, and forces the stud or dog 8 into alockslot in the innerface of the wall a. WVhen the clasp is swung up, the spring a fliesinward, as in Fig. 5, releasing the dog 8, and thus unclamping andunlocking the movable jaw by a single action of the clasp D.

One or more dogs may be employed to lock with the slots 10. The plan ofdog in Fig. 5 illustrates an available one for use with the lock-platein Fig. 6. Referring to Fig. 8, a spring, 1;, having dog i,is shownequivalent to the springin Fig. 2, except that by means of the elongatedslot a, in which a set-screw may be passed to secure the spring to thepart P, the dog may be adjusted to greater accuracy to conform to thedesired position of the jaw B in relation to the pica or half-picaspaces represented by the notches u.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaini as new is- 1. Thecombination of a base-plate having a stationary j aw, a back providedwith a series of 0- lock'slots a suitable distance apart, which openinto space at one edge of the back, thereby being unconfined at oneside, and a movable jaw having suitable means for interlocking with saidslots, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a base-plate having a stationary jaw, a backprovided with a series of lock-slots a suitable distance apart, and amovablejaw provided with a spring-actuated dog, and a pivoted clasp,whereby the action in swinging the clasp on its pivot to unclasp the jawoperates to free the dog from the lockslots, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a base-plate having a stationary jaw, a backprovided with aseries of loekslots, and a movable jaw provided with anadjustable spring terminating at the end in a dog for engaging saidslots, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a base-plate having a stationary jaw, a back, alook-plate of metal made separate from the back and secured to the innerface thereof, said lock-plate having a series of lock slots at suitabledistances apart, and a movable jaw provided with suitable locking meansfor engaging said slots, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name inpresence of two witnesses.

PRESTON S. KELLOGG.

\Vitncsses:

XVM. T. DAVIS, CHAS. E. RonINsox.

